Isahluko Sesithathu
Bavivinywa—Kodwa Baba Qotho KuJehova!
1, 2. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezivelele ezaba isendlalela sokulandisa okusencwadini kaDaniyeli?
INCWADI kaDaniyeli eyisiprofetho iqala ngesikhathi soshintsho olukhulu emhlabeni. I-Asiriya yayisanda kulahlekelwa yinhloko-dolobha yayo, iNineve. IGibithe eseningizimu yezwe lakwaJuda yayisithotshisiwe. Kanti iBabiloni lalidlondlobala ngamandla njengombuso oqavile emzabalazweni wokubusa umhlaba.
2 Ngo-625 B.C.E., uFaro-Nekho waseGibithe wenza umzamo wokugcina wokuvimba ukuba umbuso waseBabiloni ungafinyeleli ngaseningizimu. Ukuze aphumelele, waphaka impi walibangisa eKharikemishi, esosebeni olungenhla loMfula i-Ewufrathe. Impi yaseKharikemishi, njengoba yaziwa kanjalo kamuva, yaba isenzakalo esingumnqamulajuqu nesiyingqopha-mlando. Ibutho laseBabiloni, elaliholwa iNkosana Eyindlalifa uNebukadinesari, laqotha imbokodo nesisekelo emabuthweni kaFaro-Nekho. (Jeremiya 46:2) Efuqwa umoya wokunqoba, uNebukadinesari wavala ngehlahla eSiriya nasePalestina futhi wakuqeda nyá ukubusa kweGibithe kulezi zindawo. Kwaba ukufa kukayise uNabopolassar kuphela okwamenza wathi gozololo kancane emkhankasweni wakhe.
3. Waba yini umphumela womkhankaso wokuqala kaNebukadinesari wokulwa neJerusalema?
3 Ngonyaka olandelayo, uNebukadinesari—manje owayesebekwe esihlalweni njengenkosi yaseBabiloni—waphinde wagxila emikhankasweni yakhe yezempi eSiriya nasePalestina. Kungalesi sikhathi-ke lapho afika khona eJerusalema ngokokuqala ngqá. IBhayibheli liyabika: “Emihleni yakhe kwenyuka uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele; uJehoyakimi wayeyinceku yakhe iminyaka emithathu; wayesebuya, wamhlubuka.”—2 AmaKhosi 24:1.
UNEBUKADINESARI USEJERUSALEMA
4. Kumelwe iqondwe kanjani inkulumo ethi “ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi” ekuDaniyeli 1:1?
4 Amazwi athi “iminyaka emithathu” asithakazelisa ngokukhethekile thina ngoba amagama okuqala encwadi kaDaniyeli afundeka kanje: “Ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi inkosi yakwaJuda kwafika uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele eJerusalema, walivimbezela.” (Daniyeli 1:1) Ngonyaka wesithathu waso sonke isikhathi sokubusa kukaJehoyakimi, owabusa kusukela ngo-628 kuya ku-618 B.C.E., uNebukadinesari wayengakabi “inkosi yaseBabele” kodwa wayeyinkosana eyindlalifa. Ngo-620 B.C.E., uNebukadinesari waphoqa uJehoyakimi ukuba akhonze kuye. Kodwa ngemva kweminyaka engaba mithathu, uJehoyakimi wavusa umhlwengwa. Ngakho, kwakungo-618 B.C.E., noma phakathi nonyaka wesithathu wobukhosi bukaJehoyakimi ekhonza kwelaseBabiloni, lapho iNkosi uNebukadinesari yafika khona eJerusalema okwesibili, izojezisa uJehoyakimi owayesehlubuka.
5. Waba yini umphumela womkhankaso wesibili kaNebukadinesari wokulwa neJerusalema?
5 Umphumela walokhu kuvimbezela waba ukuthi “uJehova wanikela esandleni sakhe, uJehoyakimi inkosi yakwaJuda, nenxenye yezitsha zendlu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso.” (Daniyeli 1:2, NW) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehoyakimi wafa ngokubulawa noma lapho evukela, ngasekuqaleni kokuvinjezelwa. (Jeremiya 22:18, 19) Ngo-618 B.C.E., indodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-18 ubudala, uJehoyakini, yamlandela njengenkosi. Kodwa ukubusa kukaJehoyakini kwathatha izinyanga ezintathu nezinsuku eziyishumi kuphela, ngo-617 B.C.E. wacela umaluju.—Qhathanisa neyesi-2 AmaKhosi 24:10-15.
6. UNebukadinesari wazenzani izitsha ezingcwele zethempeli laseJerusalema?
6 UNebukadinesari wathatha izitsha ezingcwele zethempeli eJerusalema njengempango “waziyisa ezweni laseShineyari endlini kankulunkulu wakhe, waziyisa izitsha endlini yengcebo kankulunkulu wakhe,” uMarduk noma uMerodaki ngesiHeberu. (Daniyeli 1:2; Jeremiya 50:2) Kwatholakala umbhalo oqoshiwe waseBabiloni onamazwi kaNebukadinesari aphathelene nethempeli likaMarduk, athi: “Phakathi ngilondoloze isiliva negolide namatshe ayigugu . . . ngabeka khona indlu yengcebo yombuso wami.” Sizobuye sifunde ngalezi zitsha ezingcwele uma sesikhuluma ngesikhathi seNkosi uBelishasari.—Daniyeli 5:1-4.
INTSHA YASEJERUSALEMA EYIKHETHELO
7, 8. NgokukaDaniyeli 1:3, 4 no-6, singaphetha ngokuthini ngesizinda sikaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu?
7 EBabiloni akulethwanga ingcebo yethempeli likaJehova nje kuphela. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Inkosi yakhuluma kuAshipenazi induna yabathenwa bayo ukuba athathe kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli abozalo lwenkosi nezikhulu, abalethe, abafana abangenasici, ababukeka kahle, abanengqondo ekuhlakanipheni konke, abanolwazi ekwazini, abanokuqonda ekwazini, abanamandla ukukhonza endlini yenkosi.”—Daniyeli 1:3, 4.
8 Kwakhethwa bani? Siyatshelwa: “Kulabo kwakukhona kubantwana bakwaJuda oDaniyeli, noHananiya, noMishayeli, noAzariya.” (Daniyeli 1:6) Lokhu kucacisa isizinda sikaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe ebesithande ukucasha. Ngokwesibonelo, siphawula ukuthi ‘babengabantwana bakwaJuda,’ isizwe sasebukhosini. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babengabozalo lwasebukhosini yini noma cha, kuyafaneleka ukucabanga ukuthi okungenani babevela emikhayeni evelele nenegama. Ngalé kokuba ngabaphilayo engqondweni nasemzimbeni, babenokuqonda, ukuhlakanipha, ulwazi nokukhalipha—ngesikhathi bonke besengabizwa ngokuthi “abafana,” mhlawumbe besanda kweva eshumini nambili ubudala. Kumelwe ukuba uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babevelele—beyikhethelo—entsheni yaseJerusalema.
9. Kungani kubonakala kuyiqiniso ukuthi uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu babenabazali abesaba uNkulunkulu?
9 Indaba ayisitsheli ukuthi babengobani abazali bale ntsha. Nokho, kubonakala kuyiqiniso ukuthi babengabantu abahlonipha uNkulunkulu ababeyithathe njengebalulekile imithwalo yabo yemfanelo yobuzali. Uma kucatshangelwa ukonakala okungokomoya nokokuziphatha okwakudlangile eJerusalema ngalesi sikhathi, ikakhulu ‘enzalweni yasebukhosini nasezikhulwini,’ kusobala ukuthi izimfanelo ezisezingeni eliphakeme uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu ababenazo azivelanga ngephutha. Ngokungangabazeki, kumelwe ukuba kwabaphula umoya abazali ukubona amadodana abo eyiswa ezweni elikude. Ukube nje babewazi umphumela walokho, babengeve beyoziqhenya! Yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukuba abazali bakhulise izingane zabo “ngesiyalo nangokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova”!—Efesu 6:4.
UKUHLASELWA KWENGQONDO
10. Le ntsha engamaHeberu yafundiswani, futhi ngayiphi injongo?
10 Ngokushesha izingqondo ezincane zalezi zithunjwa zaqala ukuhlaselwa. Ukuze aqikelele ukuthi le ntsha engamaHeberu iyalolongwa ukuze ingene esimisweni saseBabiloni, uNebukadinesari wayala izikhulu zakhe ukuba ‘ziyifundise izincwadi nolimi lwamaKaledi.’ (Daniyeli 1:4) Kwakungeyona imfundo evamile lena. I-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ichaza ukuthi “yayihlanganisa ukufunda isiSumeri, isi-Akkad, nesi-Aramu . . . , nezinye izilimi, kanye nezincwadi ezihlukahlukene ezilotshwe ngazo.” Lezi “zincwadi ezihlukahlukene” zazihlanganisa ezomlando, izibalo, isayensi yokuhlolwa kwezinkanyezi, njalonjalo. Nokho, “imibhalo yenkolo ehambisana nazo, ekhuluma nge-omina [amabika] nesayensi yokuhlola izinkanyezi . . . , yafeza ingxenye enkulu.”
11. Yiziphi izinyathelo ezathathwa zokuqikelela ukuthi le ntsha engamaHeberu ikwamukela ngokuphelele ukuphila kwasesigodlweni saseBabiloni?
11 Ukuze le ntsha engamaHeberu iyamukele ngokuphelele imikhuba namasiko okuphila kwasesigodlweni saseBabiloni, ‘inkosi yayimisela isabelo semihla ngemihla sokudla kwenkosi nesewayini eliphuzayo, yondliwe iminyaka emithathu; kuyakuthi ngasekugcineni kwayo ime phambi kwenkosi.’ (Daniyeli 1:5) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ‘induna yabathenwa yabetha amagama; uDaniyeli yametha ngokuthi uBeliteshasari, noHananiya uShadiraki, noMishayeli uMeshaki, no-Azariya u-Abedi-Nego.’ (Daniyeli 1:7) Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli kwakuwumkhuba ovamile ukuba umuntu ethiwe igama elisha eliphawula isigameko esibalulekile ekuphileni kwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova washintsha amagama ka-Abrama noSarayi baba u-Abrahama noSara. (Genesise 17:5, 15, 16) Ukushintsha komuntu igama lomunye kuwubufakazi obusobala bokuthi lo olishintshayo unegunya noma uphethe. Ngesikhathi uJosefa eba umphathi-kudla waseGibithe, uFaro wametha igama elithi uSafenati-Phaneya.—Genesise 41:44, 45; qhathanisa neyesi-2 AmaKhosi 23:34; 24:17.
12, 13. Kungani kungase kuthiwe ukushintsha amagama ale ntsha engamaHeberu kwakuwumzamo wokuqeda ukholo lwayo?
12 Ngokuqondene noDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu, ukushintshwa kwamagama kwakusho okuthile. Amagama ababewethiwe ngabazali babo ayevumelana nokukhulekela uJehova. Elithi “Daniyeli” lisho ukuthi “UMahluleli Wami NguNkulunkulu.” Elithi “Hananiya” lisho ukuthi “UJehova Ubonise Umusa.” Elithi “Mishayeli” cishe lisho ukuthi “Ubani OnjengoNkulunkulu?” Elithi “Azariya” lisho ukuthi “UJehova Uye Wasiza.” Akungabazeki ukuthi abazali babo babenethemba eliqinile lokuthi amadodana abo ayeyokhula ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJehova uNkulunkulu abe izinceku zakhe ezikholekile neziqotho.
13 Amagama amasha ayethiwe la maHeberu amane wonke ayehlobene eduze nawonkulunkulu bamanga, esikisela ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso wayesethotshiswe yilabo nkulunkulu. Yeka umzamo wobuqili wokuqeda ukholo lwale ntsha!
14. Asho ukuthini amagama amasha ethiwa uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu?
14 Igama likaDaniyeli lashintshwa, waba uBeliteshasari, okusho ukuthi “Vikela Ukuphila Kwenkosi.” Ngokusobala, leli laliyisifushaniso somthandazo oya kuBel, noma uMarduk, unkulunkulu omkhulu waseBabiloni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uNebukadinesari wayenesandla ekukhetheni leli gama likaDaniyeli noma cha, ngokuziqhenya wavuma ukuthi ‘linjengegama likankulunkulu wakhe.’ (Daniyeli 4:8) UHananiya wethiwa elithi Shadiraki, ezinye izazi ezikholelwa ukuthi liyibizombaxa elisho ukuthi “Umyalo Ka-Aku.” Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi elithi Aku kwakuyigama likankulunkulu waseSumeri. UMishayeli wethiwa elithi Meshaki (cishe uMi·sha·aku), okuwukusonta ngobuqili incazelo ethi “Ubani OnjengoNkulunkulu?” ibe ukuthi “Ubani Oyilokho U-Aku Ayikho?” Igama lika-Azariya laseBabiloni kwakungu-Abedi-Nego, cishe elisho ukuthi “Inceku KaNego.” Elithi “Nego” lingenye indlela yokubiza elithi “Nebo,” igama likankulunkulu okwethiwa ngaye nababusi baseBabiloni abaningi.
BABEZIMISELE UKUHLALA BEQOTHO KUJEHOVA
15, 16. Yiziphi izingozi uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abase bebhekene nazo manje futhi basabela kanjani?
15 Amagama aseBabiloni, uhlelo lokufundiswa kabusha nokudla okukhethekile—konke lokhu kwakungewona nje umzamo wokuba uDaniyeli nentsha engamaHeberu amathathu bamukele indlela yokuphila yaseBabiloni kuphela kodwa kwakuwumzamo wokubahlukanisa nanoNkulunkulu wabo uJehova, ukuqeqeshwa kwabo nesizinda sabo esingokwenkolo. Ibhekene nakho konke lokhu kucindezelwa nokulingwa, yayizokwenzani le ntsha?
16 Ukulandisa okuphefumulelwe kuthi: “UDaniyeli wazimisela enhliziyweni yakhe ukuba angazingcolisi ngesabelo sokudla kwenkosi nangewayini eliphuzayo.” (Daniyeli 1:8a) Nakuba kunguDaniyeli kuphela ogagulwe ngegama, okwalandela kwenza kube sobala ukuthi abangane bakhe abathathu basisekela isinqumo sakhe. Amazwi athi “wazimisela enhliziyweni yakhe” abonisa ukuthi imfundo uDaniyeli ayinikezwa abazali bakhe nabanye ekhaya yayihlalile enhliziyweni yakhe. Akungabazeki ukuthi ukuqeqeshwa okufanayo kwaqondisa nala maHeberu amathathu ekwenzeni kwawo izinqumo. Lokhu kukubonisa kahle ukubaluleka kokufundisa izingane zethu, ngisho nalapho kungase kubonakale sengathi zisezincane kakhulu ukuba zikuqonde ezikufundiswayo.—IzAga 22:6; 2 Thimothewu 3:14, 15.
17. Kungani uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe benqaba ukudla kwenkosi kwansuku zonke kuphela, bangawenqaba amanye amalungiselelo?
17 Kungani la maHeberu asemasha enqaba izibiliboco newayini kuphela kodwa angawenqaba amanye amalungiselelo? Indlela kaDaniyeli yokucabanga isichaza ngokucacile isizathu: “Ukuba angazingcolisi.” ‘Ukufunda izincwadi nolimi lwamaKaledi’ nokwethiwa igama laseBabiloni, nakuba kwakungathandeki, kwakungeke ngempela kumngcolise umuntu. Cabangela isibonelo sikaMose, cishe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngaphambili. Nakuba ‘ayefundiswe kukho konke ukuhlakanipha kwamaGibithe,’ wahlala eqotho kuJehova. Ukukhuliswa kwakhe ngabazali bakhe bangempela kwamnikeza isiqalo esiqinile. Ngenxa yalokho, “ngokholo uMose, lapho esekhulile, wenqaba ukubizwa ngokuthi indodana yendodakazi kaFaro, ekhetha ukuphathwa kabi nabantu bakaNkulunkulu kunenjabulo yesikhashana esonweni.”—IzEnzo 7:22; Heberu 11:24, 25.
18. Ukudla kwenkosi kwakuzoyingcolisa kanjani le ntsha engamaHeberu?
18 Amalungiselelo enkosi yaseBabiloni ayezozingcolisa kanjani lezi zinsizwa? Okokuqala, kungenzeka ukuthi lezi zibiliboco zazihlanganisa nokudla okwakunqatshelwe uMthetho KaMose. Ngokwesibonelo, abaseBabiloni babedla izilwane ezingcolile, ama-Israyeli ayenqatshelwe uMthetho ukuba azidle. (Levitikusi 11:1-31; 20:24-26; Duteronomi 14:3-20) Okwesibili, abaseBabiloni babengenawo umkhuba wokophisa izilwane ezihlatshiwe ngaphambi kokudla inyama yazo. Ukudla inyama engophiswanga kwakuyoba ukuwephula ngokuqondile umthetho kaJehova wegazi. (Genesise 9:1, 3, 4; Levitikusi 17:10-12; Duteronomi 12:23-25) Okwesithathu, abakhulekeli bonkulunkulu bamanga babevame ukunikela ngokudla kwabo ezithombeni ngaphambi kokukudla nabanye. Izinceku zikaJehova zazingayingeni nakuyingena leyo! (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 10:20-22.) Okokugcina, ukuzitika ngokudla okungenamsoco nophuzo olunamandla usuku nosuku ngeke kwabalungela abantu banoma ibuphi ubudala, ingasaphathwa eyabasebasha.
19. Le ntsha engamaHeberu yayingase ibeke ziphi izaba, kodwa yasizwa yini ukuba yenze isinqumo esifanele?
19 Ukwazi into okumelwe uyenze, nokuba nesibindi sokuyenza lapho ungaphansi kokucindezeleka noma isilingo, kuyizinto ezimbili ezingefani. UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu babengase bacabange ukuthi njengoba bekude nabazali babo nabangane babo, babengeke bakwazi ababekwenzile. Babengase babeke nezaba zokuthi kwakungumyalo wenkosi nokuthi kwakubonakala ingekho enye indlela. Ngaphandle kwalokho, akungabazeki ukuthi enye intsha yawamukela ngezandla ezimhlophe la malungiselelo futhi yakubheka njengokuyilungelo ukufakwa kuwo, hhayi ubunzima. Kodwa ukucabanga okunjalo okunephutha kwakungaholela kalula ogibeni lwesono sangasese, okuyinto eyenga abaningi abasha namuhla. Le ntsha engamaHeberu yayazi ukuthi “amehlo kaJehova asezindaweni zonke” nokuthi “uNkulunkulu uyakuyisa yonke imisebenzi ekwahlulelweni kanye nakho konke okufihliweyo, noma kuhle noma kubi.” (IzAga 15:3; UmShumayeli 12:14) Sonke masifunde isifundo kule nkambo yale ntsha ekholekile.
ISIBINDI NOKUPHIKELELA KWALETHA UMVUZO
20, 21. UDaniyeli wenzani, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
20 Esenqumile enhliziyweni yakhe ukwenqaba amathonya onakalisayo, uDaniyeli waqhubeka wenza ngokuvumelana nesinqumo sakhe. “[“Wayelokhu ecela,” NW] enduneni yabathenwa ukuba angazingcolisi.” (Daniyeli 1:8b) “Wayelokhu ecela”—amazwi aphawulekayo lawo. Ngokuvamile kudingeka umzamo ophikelelayo ukuze siphumelele ekulweni nezilingo noma ekunqobeni ubuthakathaka obuthile.—Galathiya 6:9.
21 Ngokuqondene noDaniyeli, ukuphikelela kwamlethela umvuzo. “UNkulunkulu wamnika uDaniyeli ukuba athole umusa nobumnene emehlweni enduna yabathenwa.” (Daniyeli 1:9) Ukuthi izinto zagcina zibahambele kahle oDaniyeli nabangane bakhe, kwakungengenxa yokuthi babebukeka futhi behlakaniphile. Kunalokho, kwakungenxa yesibusiso sikaJehova. Akungabazeki ukuthi uDaniyeli wasikhumbula isaga sesiHeberu esithi: “Themba kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mazise yena ezindleleni zakho zonke, uyakuqondisa imikhondo yakho.” (IzAga 3:5, 6) Ukulandela leso seluleko kwaba nomvuzo ngempela.
22. Induna yabathenwa yayinaziphi izizathu ezizwakalayo zokwenqaba?
22 Ekuqaleni induna enkulu yabathenwa yenqaba, yathi: “Mina ngiyesaba ukuthi inkosi yami, inkosi, emisile ukudla kwenu nokuphuza kwenu, iyakubona ubuso benu ukuba buxhozekile kunabafana abayintanga yenu, nilifake engozini ikhanda lami enkosini.” (Daniyeli 1:10) Lezi zikhalo nokwesaba kwakufanelekile. Izwi leNkosi uNebukadinesari lalingaweli phansi, futhi le nduna yayiqaphela ukuthi “ikhanda” layo lalizoba sengozini uma yeqa iziyalezo zenkosi. Wayezokwenzani uDaniyeli?
23. Ngenkambo ayithatha, uDaniyeli wakubonisa kanjani ukuqonda nokuhlakanipha?
23 Kulapha-ke lapho ukuqonda nokuhlakanipha kwakudingeka khona. Cishe uDaniyeli osemusha wakhumbula lesi saga: “Impendulo ethambileyo iyabuyisa ukufutheka, kepha izwi elilukhuni livusa ulaka.” (IzAga 15:1) Esikhundleni sokubelesela ngenkani ukuba anikezwe akucelayo futhi mhlawumbe enze nabanye bambulale ngenxa yokholo, uDaniyeli wayibeka ethala indaba. Ngesikhathi esifanele, waya “encekwini,” yona mhlawumbe eyayizimisele ukuchezuka kancane emthethweni ngoba yayingeke ilandise ngokuqondile enkosini.—Daniyeli 1:11.
KUHLONGOZWA ISIVIVINYO SEZINSUKU EZIYISHUMI
24. Yisiphi isivivinyo uDaniyeli asihlongoza?
24 Kule nceku, uDaniyeli wahlongoza ukuba kwenziwe isivivinyo esithile, ethi: “Ake ulinge izinceku zakho izinsuku eziyishumi, basiphe imifino yokudla namanzi okuphuza. Besebubekwa ubuso bethu phambi kwakho kanye nobuso babafana abadla isabelo sokudla kwenkosi, wenze ezincekwini zakho njengokubona kwakho.”—Daniyeli 1:12, 13.
25. Cishe “imifino” eyayinikwa uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu yayihlanganisa nani?
25 Izinsuku eziyishumi bedla ‘imifino namanzi’—ingabe babeyobukeka ‘bexhozekile’ kunabanye? Elithi “imifino” lihunyushwe egameni lesiHeberu ngokuyinhloko elisho “izinhlamvu.” Ezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli zilihumusha ngokuthi “pulse” echazwa ngokuthi “izinhlamvu ezidliwayo zezitshalo ezihlukahlukene ezithela imidumba (njengophizi, ubhontshisi, noma udali).” Ezinye izazi zinomuzwa wokuthi umongo ubonisa ukuthi ukudla kwakuhlanganisa nokunye ngaphandle nje kwezinhlamvu ezidlekayo. Enye incwadi ithi: “Lokho uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe ababekucela kwakuyimifino engaxutshwe nalutho yabantu abavamile kunokudla okucebile, okunenyama eningi kwasetafuleni lasebukhosini.” Ngakho, imifino yayingahlanganisa ukudla okunomsoco okwakuphekwe nobhontshisi, ukhukhumba, isweli, uhlobo oluthile lweshaladi, udali, amathanga no-anyanisi nesinkwa esenziwe ngokusanhlamvu okuhlukahlukene. Ngokuqinisekile akekho owayengathi lokhu kudla kwakungabulala abantu ngendlala. Kubonakala sengathi le nceku yayikuqonda lokho. “Yabalalela kulento, yabalinga izinsuku eziyishumi.” (Daniyeli 1:14) Waba yini umphumela?
26. Waba yini umphumela wesivivinyo sezinsuku eziyishumi, futhi kungani izinto zaba kanjalo?
26 “Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku eziyishumi ubuso babo babonakala bubuhle, babekhuluphele emzimbeni kunabo bonke abafana ababedla isabelo sokudla kwenkosi.” (Daniyeli 1:15) Lokhu akufanele kubhekwe njengobufakazi bokuthi ukudla kwemifino kungcono kunokucebile, okunenyama eningi. Izinsuku eziyishumi ziyisikhathi esifushane ukuba uhlobo oluthile lokudla luveze imiphumela ebonakalayo, kodwa azizimfushane kakhulu ukuba uJehova afeze injongo yakhe. “Isibusiso sikaJehova siyacebisa; akenezeli usizi kuso,” kusho iZwi lakhe. (IzAga 10:22) La maHeberu amane asemasha abeka ukholo lwawo kuJehova amethemba, futhi akazange awashiye. Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka, uJesu Kristu waphila ngaphandle kokudla izinsuku ezingu-40. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, wacaphuna amazwi akuDuteronomi 8:3, lapho sifunda khona ukuthi: “Umuntu akaphili ngesinkwa sodwa; kepha ngakho konke okuphuma emlonyeni kaJehova, yikho umuntu aphila ngakho.” Okwenzeka kuDaniyeli nabangane bakhe kuyisibonelo esihle kakhulu salokhu.
UKUQONDA NOKUHLAKANIPHA ESIKHUNDLENI SEZIBILIBOCO NEWAYINI
27, 28. Kungaziphi izindlela indlela yokuphila uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abazifaka kuyo yaba ukuzilungiselela izinto ezinkulu ezazingaphambili?
27 Izinsuku eziyishumi zaziyisivivinyo nje, kodwa imiphumela yayigculisa kakhulu. “Inceku yayisisusa isabelo sokudla newayini lokuphuza, yabapha imifino.” (Daniyeli 1:16) Akunzima ukucabanga ukuthi enye intsha eyayikulolu hlelo lokuqeqeshwa yayicabangani ngoDaniyeli nabangane bakhe. Ukwenqaba idili lenkosi ukhethe ukudla imifino nsuku zonke kumelwe ukuba yakubona kuwubulima. Kodwa kwakufufusa uvivinyo nezilingo ezinkulu, futhi le ntsha engamaHeberu yayizodinga konke ukuqapha nokuhluzeka eyayingaba nakho. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, lukholo lwayo nokwethemba kwayo uJehova okwakuyoyenza iphumelele ekuvivinyweni kokholo lwayo.—Qhathanisa noJoshuwa 1:7.
28 Ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova wayeyisekela le ntsha bungabonakala kulokhu okulandelayo: “Lababafana abane uNkulunkulu wabanika ukwazi nokuqonda encwadini nasekuhlakanipheni; uDaniyeli wayenengqondo kuyo yonke imibono namaphupho.” (Daniyeli 1:17) Ukuze babhekane nezikhathi ezinzima ezaziza, babedinga okungaphezu kwamandla omzimba nempilo enhle. “Ngokuba ukuhlakanipha kuyakungena enhliziyweni yakho, ukwazi kube-mnandi emphefumulweni wakho. Amasu ayakukulinda, ukuqonda kukugcine, ukuze wophulwe endleleni yobubi.” (IzAga 2:10-12) Yilokho kanye uJehova akunikeza laba abasha abane abakholekile ukuze abahlomisele okwakuseza ngaphambili.
29. Kungani uDaniyeli akwazi ‘ukuqonda imibono namaphupho’?
29 Kuthiwa uDaniyeli “wayenengqondo kuyo yonke imibono namaphupho.” Lokhu akusho ukuthi wayesekwazi ukufunda ingqondo yomuntu. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi nakuba uDaniyeli ebhekwa njengomunye wabaprofethi abakhulu abangamaHeberu, akazange aphefumulelwe ukuba asho izimemezelo ezinjengokuthi “ithi iNkosi uJehova” noma “Usho kanje uJehova-Sebawoti.” (Isaya 28:16; Jeremiya 6:9) Nokho, ukuqondisa komoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu kuphela okwenza uDaniyeli wakwazi ukuqonda nokuchaza imibono namaphupho embula injongo kaJehova.
EKUGCINENI, ISIVIVINYO ESIBUCAYI SIYAPHELA
30, 31. Inkambo eyakhethwa uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe yabazuzisa kanjani?
30 Yaphela iminyaka emithathu yokufundiswa kabusha neyokulungiswa. Kwabe sekulandela isivivinyo esibucayi—ukuxoxa komuntu eyedwa nenkosi. “Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku inkosi eyayishilo ukuthi bazakungeniswa ngazo, induna yabathenwa yabangenisa phambi kukaNebukadinesari.” (Daniyeli 1:18) Kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba laba basha abane bazilandisele. Ingabe ukunamathela emithethweni kaJehova kunokwamukela izindlela zabaseBabiloni kwakuyobazuzisa?
31 “Inkosi yakhuluma nabo; phakathi kwabo bonke akufunyaniswanga-muntu onjengoDaniyeli, noHananiya, noMishayeli, noAzariya; base bemi ngaphambi kwenkosi.” (Daniyeli 1:19) Yeka ukulwelwa okuphelele kwenkambo yabo yeminyaka emithathu eyayendulele! Babengahlanyi ngokunamathela endleleni yokuphila eyayibuswa ukholo nonembeza wabo. Ngokukholeka entweni eyayingase ibonakale incane, uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babusiswa ngezinto ezinkulu. Ilungelo ‘lokuma phambi kwenkosi’ laliwumgomo owawuphishekelwa yiyo yonke intsha eyayikulolu hlelo lokuqeqeshwa. IBhayibheli alisho ukuthi laba basha abane abangamaHeberu kwakuwukuphela kwabo yini abakhethwa. Kunoma yikuphi, inkambo yabo yokukholeka, ngempela yabalethela ‘umvuzo omkhulu.’—IHubo 19:11.
32. Kungani kungathiwa uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya bajabulela ilungelo elingaphezu kwelokuba sesigodlweni senkosi?
32 “Uyambona umuntu ehlakaniphile emsebenzini wakhe na? Uyakuma phambi kwamakhosi,” kusho imiBhalo. (IzAga 22:29) Ngakho uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya bakhethwa uNebukadinesari ukuba bame phambi kwenkosi, okusho ukuthi babe izikhulu zesigodlo. Kukho konke lokhu, siyasibona isandla sikaJehova siqondisa izinto ukuze ngalezi zinsizwa—ikakhulu ngoDaniyeli—izici ezibalulekile zenjongo yaphezulu zenziwe zaziwe. Nakuba kwakuwudumo ukukhethelwa ukuba izikhulu zesigodlo sikaNebukadinesari, kwakuwudumo olukhulu nakakhulu ukusetshenziswa ngendlela emangalisa kangaka yiNkosi Yendawo Yonke, uJehova.
33, 34. (a) Kungani inkosi yayithanda le ntsha engamaHeberu? (b) Yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda kule ndaba yale ntsha engamaHeberu?
33 UNebukadinesari washeshe wabona ukuthi ukuhlakanipha nokuqonda uJehova ayekunikeze laba basha abane abangamaHeberu kwakukudlula kude okwabeluleki nezihlakaniphi zasesigodlweni sakhe. “Ezintweni zonke zokuhlakanipha nezokuqonda inkosi eyayibabuza ngazo yabafumanisa bedlula kayishumi zonke izanusi nabathwebulayo ababesembusweni wayo wonke.” (Daniyeli 1:20) Kwakungabuye kwenzeke kanjani? “Izanusi nabathwebulayo” babethembele olwazini oluncane nolusekelwe ezintweni eziyize zaseBabiloni, kanti uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babethembele ekuhlakanipheni kwaphezulu. Kwakungenakuqhathaniswa nakancane—kwakungeke kube nakuncintisana!
34 Empeleni izinto azishintshanga kangako kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuze kube manje. Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., ngesikhathi ifilosofi yamaGreki nomthetho wamaRoma kusadumile, umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba alobe: “Ukuhlakanipha kwalelizwe kuwubuwula kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Ubamba abahlakaniphileyo ebuqilini babo siqu.’ Nokuthi futhi: ‘UJehova uyazi ukuthi imicabango yabantu abahlakaniphileyo iyize.’ Ngakho makungabikho muntu oziqhayisa ngabantu.” (1 Korinte 3:19-21) Namuhla kudingeka sikubambisise lokho uJehova asifundise khona, singathonyeki kalula ubukhazikhazi nobucwebecwebe baleli lizwe.—1 Johane 2:15-17.
UKUKHOLEKA KUZE KUBE SEKUGCINENI
35. Kungakanani esikutshelwa ngabangane bakaDaniyeli abathathu?
35 Ukholo oluqinile lukaHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya luvezwa ngendlela evelele kakhulu kuDaniyeli isahluko 3, ngokuqondene nesithombe segolide sikaNebukadinesari ethafeni laseDura novivinyo lwesithando somlilo. Akungabazeki ukuthi la maHeberu esaba uNkulunkulu ahlala ekholekile kuJehova kwaze kwaba sekufeni. Lokhu sikwazi ngoba, ngaphandle kokuthandabuza, umphostoli uPawulu wayebhekisela kubo lapho eloba ngalabo “okwathi ngokholo . . . bamisa amandla omlilo.” (Heberu 11:33, 34) Bayizibonelo ezivelele zezinceku zikaJehova, ezisencane nesezikhulile.
36. Yikuphi okuvelele ngesikhathi esaphilwa uDaniyeli?
36 Ivesi lokugcina lesahluko 1 lithi ngoDaniyeli: “UDaniyeli wayekhona kwaze kwaba-ngumnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi.” Umlando uveza ukuthi uKoresi walichitha ngobusuku obubodwa iBabiloni, ngo-539 B.C.E. Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, ngenxa yedumela lakhe nesiqu sakhe, uDaniyeli waqhubeka esebenza esigodlweni sikaKoresi. Eqinisweni, uDaniyeli 10:1 usitshela ukuthi “ngomnyaka wesithathu kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya,” uJehova wembulela uDaniyeli indaba enkulu. Uma ayengumfana ngesikhathi elethwa eBabiloni ngo-617 B.C.E., wayecishe abe neminyaka eyikhulu lapho ethola lowo mbono wokugcina. Yeka isikhathi eside nesibusisekile senkonzo yokukholeka kuJehova!
37. Zifundo zini esingazifunda ngokucabangela uDaniyeli isahluko 1?
37 Isahluko sokuqala sencwadi kaDaniyeli sisixoxela okungaphezu kwendaba yabasha abane abakholekile ababhekana ngokuphumelelayo nokuvivinywa kokholo. Sisibonisa nendlela uJehova angasebenzisa ngayo noma ubani amthandayo ukuze afeze injongo yakhe. Le ndaba ifakazela ukuthi uma uJehova eyivumela, into engase ibonakale iyinhlekelele ingafeza injongo ewusizo. Futhi isitshela ukuthi ukukholeka ezintweni ezincane kuletha umvuzo omkhulu.
YINI OYIZUZILE?
• Yini engase ishiwo ngesizinda sikaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abasebasha?
• Ukukhuliswa kahle kwabasha abane abangamaHeberu kwavivinywa kanjani eBabiloni?
• UJehova wawavuza kanjani amaHeberu amane ngokuba kwawo nesibindi?
• Zifundo zini izinceku zikaJehova zosuku lwanamuhla ezingazifunda kuDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 30]